Bottle-labeling machine.



W. J. EVANS.

BOTTLE LABBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1909.

Patented oet. 31, 1911 of Fig. l. 2?/ g T AT1-EST y Mm INVENTQR WILLIAM d. EVANS.

BY ATTYS' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. J. EVANS.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYs. 1909.

1,007,080, Patented Oct.31, 1911.

% SHEETS-SHEET 2.

an .i BY 'AT1-Ys..

W. J. EVANS.

BOTTLE LABELING APPLICATION FILED M MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Fig.3.

D 111D lli INvENToR WILLIAM d-Evfxns. -Y V/MLw//f-p ATTYS.-

AT1-EST W. J. EVANS. BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3,1909.

1,007,080. Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 44 Fig. 5.

4l {IO ATTEST lNvfNToR WILLIAMJ EVANS.

BY TTYS.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM J'. EVANS, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM A. BYRIDER, 0F AKRON, OHIO.

BOTTLE- LABELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom 'it may concern:

' Be it known that-I, WILLIAM J. EVANS, a cit-izen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a bott-le labeling machine, and the invention consistsin a machine adapted to paste labels and apply the same to bottles mechanically and thereby substitute and dispense with hand labor, all substantially as shown and described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the machine on the line of the suction mechanism adapted to receive and carry the label to the point of delivery upon the bottle, as hereinafter fully described. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine a quarter turn to the right from position in Fig. 1 and showing the position and manner of delivery of the label to or upon the bottle, also as hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the parts as they appear successively in Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that Figs. 1 and 2 are upon radial lines a quarter turn apart, while the present View shows full lines of said parts in both operating positions and as they occur successively as to position but simultaneously in point of time. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the two hubs through which both the suction and the blast for the labels are controlled. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine partly in section and particularly of Fig. 3, the section being on a line substantially between the paste pot and the paste applying roller. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a guard mechanism for the labels before the suction drum.

As thus shown the machine is designed to perform all the labor involved in supplying, pastingand' sticking labels upon bottles, the same being performed in three several successive and progressive steps completing the operation. To this end the machine is pro vided with suitable pockets, wherein the labels are bunched one behind the other and fed or supplied one at a time to a suitable carrying mechanism comprising suction drums. These drums are adapted to be rotated, first to pasting position for the labels,

`more fully appear.

step to receiving position for the label, and. -thus the work is carried forward automatically and accurately as will hereinafter The machine is supported upon a frame or bed B of suitable size and elevation, and a vertically disposed cylinder, C, is seated in or about an opening in said bed and provided with an exhaust opening a in its bottom head A. Said head is removably screwed into the lower extremity of said cylinder and has a relatively long sleeve shaped bearing for cam actuated slidable rod E, which extends up into said cylinder and is adapted to be reciprocated axially therein as will clearly appear. The said cylinder C and its head A are stationary and the opposite or upper head b of the said cylinder provides a suitable bearing for the tubular shaft F through which air blast is supplied for blowing the labels upon the bottles. --In this connection it is to be observed that said tubular blast shaft or pipe F is connected with two reciprocating butotherwise stationary hubs H and H respectively. That is two are em loyed in :this instance, but the principle o my invention is equally and fully embodied in a single hub, the double use of hubs in this case having the advantage of handling labels for either the body or the neck of a bottle or for both at thesame time as may be desired. Otherwise only a single hub .might be employed and for either the body or the neck of the bottle. Said hubs are unitary or in one piece in this instance, and oonnected by a neck la, which is provided with a bore 2 lengthwise through said neck and open to blast pipe F and to lateral ducts 3 and 4 respectively at its ends. These ducts or ports are the blast assages above referred to for blowing the labels upon the bottles and are in constant open communication with said blast pipe F. Two drums, D and D', are employed in connection with said hubs, so-called.

Patented Oct. 31, 19,11. Y

l These drums are. mounted one upon the other and upon a ro-l tatable gear G as a base support therefor and are otherwise sleeved to rotate about cylinder C as a bearing therefor. As to these hubs and drums, it will be observed that they are of different depths respectively and that the upper drum is somewhat larger than the lower one in diameter. The latter difference is more especially to adapt the upper drum to reach the neck ofv the bottle, and the diiference in depth is on account vof the difference in widths of labels employed for the bodyand neck of the bottle respectively. Otherwise they might have the same relative sizes, and both drums are rotated intermittently or have measured or broken rotation around said cylinder, while the said hubs do not rotate but have a vertical reciprocating movement through their operating rod E. Said rod is yoked to the lower hub as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and is actuated by cam wheel W. l Said wheel is splined on a transverse shaft S, Fig. 2, and is provided with a series of so-called cam teeth or projections somewhat resembling saw-teeth and having straight backs 6 running at an inclination to elevations 7 where each cam ends, while the said shaft E has a roller 8 on its bottom adapted to run upon the said straight backs successively and raise the said hubs H and H through shaft E to such elevation as will open and close their relations successively to the air blast and the air suction, respectively. Said drums furthermore are subdivided by means of partition walls 9 into a series of equal compartments, eight in number in this instance, and which walls extend from the outer wall of the drums radially against the surface of cylinder C where they engage closely enough to form practically air tight bearings and compartments. Said cylinder has openings or holes l0 and 12 respectively which communicate with the ducts 3 and 4 respectively in the said hubs when the blast is on. That is, the hole 10 is adapted normally, as in Fig. 2, to communicate with the blast opening 3, and the hole l2 with the blast opening 4 when the blast is being delivered and a label is being blown upon the bottle. Then when this has been done and another label is moved up by the drum the said hubs are raised momentarily by rod E and the blast is cut off automatically. On the other hand the slots l0 and l2 transverse in the side of cylinder C opposite the recesses h and 7a2 in said hubs lare constantly open to the suction from beneath. The said recesses it and if respectively in the periphery of hubs il and H are of a length relatively equal to the length of transverse slots l0 and l2 and the width of two compartments at the cylinder, so as to sustain suction on at least two compartments at a time and in certain positions of the parts on three, and the suction in any exposed compartment holds until the drum is rotated out of the suction Zone into open relation with the blast passages 3 and 4f, respectively when said passages are instantly closed, inon'ientarily. This provides for suction for receiving the labels from the label carrying pockets N and N', Fig. l, and which continues with each pocket as it is carried around past paste pot P and past paste applying roll 15 to the third position opposite the bottle and the blasts. That is to say, by reason of the length of said slots l0 and l2 and recesses L and 71.2 and their relations to thel several compartment walls 9 successively the suction remains on as to the drums until the third advance movement is reached and the label is brought into attaching position opposite the bottle J. Then this position is reached by the label it is ready also to receive the blast which blows it onto the bottle and the compartment or compartments receiving the blast have of course been carried far enough around to eut ott the suction, Fig. 3. This, however, leavesl the next two approaching coinpartmcnts still exposed to suction, and label L is receiving paste from roller l5 while the next succeeding label is about to be received from the label pocket N or N. It should have been explained that the periphery or outer circle of the drums is provided with scattered perforations d in such number as the nature of the work may require and which extend entirely around both drums.

Rotation of the drums is through gear (l actuated by gear M on vertical shaft (l. and which shaft actuates the bottle carrier mounted thereon. Said carrier has a base 1G fastened upon gear M and constituting a support for the bottles, and a. notched or scalloped head disk 17 fixed on the top oi the shaft and adapted to engage he necks of the bottles J. The gears (i and M are of the same size, and thereby a uniformly timed rotation is obtained for said bottle carri r and the drums l) and l. A second edge scalloped disk 1S is fixed on shaft C next over base lt and engages the bottoms et' the bottles, and `said disks land 1S are rotarily adjustable iu respect to shaft t) so as to bring the bottles exactly opposite the conipartnients in the. drums at the right times fer receiving the labels. The said shaft O carries a bevel gear 90 which is in mesh on opposite sides with correspending` gears 2l and on shaft S, and power is conveyed or communi ated to both shafts (l and S and thence to the parts dependent on said shafts from power shaft T by link 2B to oscillating' lever ill mounted freely on shaft S by the side of ratchet wheel f5, said lever 2% having` a, spring pressed dog Lll in its end and side adapted to ong ge he ratchet teeth 2T. liever '-Jlis connected hy said link 23 to crank arm 28 on the power shaft, whereby a constant rotation of said shaft and arm imparts a reciprocating movement to said lever and an intermittent forward movement to ratchet wheel 25. To do this the dog 26 makes engagement with one of said teeth 27 at each complete revolution of crank arm 2S and moves said ratchet wheel forward the distance between teeth and so as to carry cam wheel 8 over one of its cams T, which exactly correspond with said ratchet teeth. This in turn actuates hubs H and H', as before described, and imparts corresponding rotation to the bottle carrier and thence by gears M and G to the drums, as is now obvious. Gear 21 and ratchet wheel 25 are shown as unitary in this instance, so that rotation of said ratchet wheel also rotates said gear, and then the power divides through gear 20, some of it going by shaft O and some through splined gear 22 and shaft S- to cam wheel IV. A lrubber cushion 29 beneath sleeve 30A on blast tube F relieves the drop of the parts when roller 8 rides off one of the said cams G.

The labels L in pockets N have followers 31 provided with stems 32, and a bar 33 connecting the ends of said stems is actuated by a feed screw 34 supported on bed B and carrying a pinion 35 in mesh with\spaced teeth 36 on the under side of drum D. A

hand grip 37 on screw 34 adapts the same to withdraw the followers by a hand rotation of said screw to replenish `the labels, and the said parts are otherwise actuated with each forward movement of the drums. Finally as to the details, it has been found important to have shield plates or guards 40, temporarily interposed between the labels and the suction compartments, said plates being adapted to occupy shielding position normally but also adapted to ,be retired momentarily as each compartmentis moved up before the label pocket to receive a label therefrom. The labels are held back by the shield until the shield is withdrawn and then suction instantly takes up the first label and which closes suction as tothe others. The instant this has been done the shield is automatically restored to closing position, as shown in Fig. 3, and so on alternately. To these ends I mount the said shield or plate on an arm 41 which has a loop 42 adapted to receive an actuating lever 43, and the said arm or arms 41 where a dual mechanism is employed, are slidably mounted at their rear ends in holes in a rigid post 44, fixed on base B, while the lever 43 is provided with a longitudinal slot 45 in its lower end and is therein mounted slidably on a supporting bolt 46or its equivalent fixed in bracket 47 `on base B. Two springs, 48 and 49 are connected with said lever, the spring serving to draw said lever down- .with suction connect-ing nozzle or ward after an actuation and spring 49, engaged with the lever below its pivot on bolt 46, serving to throw the lever forward at its top and thus restore t-he shield to shielding position. The reverse or opening movement of the shield is effected through projections 50 on the bottom of gear G corresponding with the compartments in said drums and adapted to strike the extremity of the lever and cause it to swing to open position, relatively as seen in Fig. 6, spring 48 assisting in this action as well as drawing said lever. downward after a projection 50 has been passed. The said shield plate is preferably made'in one piece for both drums D and D. The paste roll is rotated by contact with the drum. The so-called hubs H and H operate in a sense as valves to control both the suction and the blast as to the compartments in the drums D and D', and cut olf one or the other in any given pos'ition. By reason of the recesses la. and h2 being the full depth of the said hubs there is a sustained suction throughout cylinder C in all positions of ythe hubs and whether suction or blast of air or fluid is communicated with said drums through the hubs.

The suction devices are not shown and need not be as any suitable means for causing exhaust or suction may be coupled up pipe a on head A of the cylinder. In this connection it need simply be stated that a continuous or constant suction is maintained throughthe pipe connection or nozzle a, and it is wholly immaterial what means may be employed for this purpose.

What I claim is:

1. A labeling machine comprising a rotatable drinn having an openwork periphery and a series of radially divided compartments, suction means to hold the labels on said compartments, a cylinder on which said drum is rotatably mounted having a hole adapted to register with said compartments successively, a reciprocating hub in said cylinder having a duct adapted to register with said hole, and a blast connection engaged with said hub and adapted to blow the labels onto the bottles.

2. A labeling machine having a station-l ary cylinder with a hole in its side and a slidable member in said cylinder having a duct to register with said hole and an air blast delivery pipe open to said duct, in combination' with a label carrying drum mounted on said cylinder over said hole and having'compartments adapted to communicate with said hole successively.

3. A labeling machine comprising a fixed cylinder having a side hole for air blast, a device in said cylinder adapted to reciprocate 'and having a duct to register with saidhole, and an air blast delivery pipe connected with said device, in combination with a drum on said cylinder constructed to carry labels on its periphery and having compartments adapted to register successively with said opening and Walls separating said compartments bearing against said cylinder.

el. .i labeling machine having a suitable base, a cylinder mounted thereon having suction connections and provided with a blast hole in its side, a device reciprocally mounted in said cylinder having a duct adapted to register with said hole and air blast` connection through one end of said cylinder communicating with said duct, in ccmbination with a label carrying drum rotatably mounted on said cylinder over said hole and having compartments adapted to register with said hole successively.

ln a labeling machine, a base and acylinder resting thereon having exhaust connections and openings in. its side, a label carrying drum rotatable upon said cylinder and having compartments adapted to register with said openings, a device reciprocally mounted in said cylinder having a recess acrrss its periphery and a duct separate from said recess commimicating with said openings,` and suction and blast connections respectively adapted to operate successively in said compartments as said drinn is rotated.

A labelingmachine having a cylinder with openings in its side and an exhaust in its lower portion, a drum rotatably mounted on said cylinder having compartments adapted to register with said openings and perforated about its periphery1` to carry the labels, in immbination with a reciprocating air controlling member in said cylinder having a recess in its periphery tor' the exhaust and a hole to admit the blast., and a blast pipe lixed to said member.

T. lin a labeling machine, a suitable base and a cylinder thereon provided with a blast pipe through its top, a drum to carry i labels haviner a )erforatcd icriiherv and rotatably mounted on said cylinder, a device in said cylinder adapted to bc reciproi'fated and provided with a duct- 't'cr the passage of the air from said blast pipe, and separato means to rotate said drinn and to reciprocate said device successively.

8, ln a labeling machine, the combination ot' a cylinder and separato blast and exhaustconnections therein and provided with openings in its side, in combination with drums yadapted to carry the labels rotatably mounted upcn said cylinder over said openings and provided with successive compartments, a set of fluid controlling i members in said cylinder having said blast i connections fixed thereto and constructed to pass the exhaust air through the same and separate means to reciprocate said meinbers and to rotate said drums respectively.

9. A rotatable label carrying drum and mechanism to feed the labels thereto, a cylinder on which said drinn is mounted having an opening in its side to said drinn, a member in said cylinder having a duct tor air blast adapted to register with. said opening and a recess for air exhaust, in combination With means to reciprocate said member comprising a cam Wheel and a shaft actuated thereby and connected With said meinber.

10. The combination of a fixed vertically disposed cylinder having a hole in its side and al rotatable drum about said cylinder having a series of compartments adapt-ed to come opposite said hole successively, in combination with a device in said cylinder' having a duct adapted to register with said hole, a rigid tube connected with said device and open to the duct therein, means to operate said device and tube together, and cushioning mechanism engaged with said tube outside said cylinder.

l1. A label applying machine having a rotatable drum adapted to carry 1the labels and provided with radiallyY divided compartments and a hollow support therefor, a label holder having substantially the saine twidth as said compartments at the periphery of said drum and suction connections to hold a' label on .said drum, in combination with an air blast adapted to blow the label ott1 said drum onto the object to receive the same and comprising a reciprocally actuated shut-oit located in said hollow support and provided with an lair duct.

1Q. A labeling machine for bottles and the like having a fixed hollow cylinder, a drum rotatable thereon provided with an open work periphery, air suction connections to support a label on said drum, separate air blast connections open to said. drinn and i the air suction and to turn on the air blast through said cylinder.

13. A labeling machine 'for bottles and the like having a rotatable drum with an open Werl; periphery adapted to carry labels and provided with a series of radially divided compartments corresponding to the labels to be carried, a cylinder upon which said drum is mounted and means therein adapted rto open and close said compartments successively to an air blast air blast connections, suction devices to hold the labels to the drum, and means to rotate said drum. i-

l-i. A bottle labeling machine comprising a cylinder and a label carrying drinn rotatably mounted thereon and. provided with. a series of radially divided compartments divided at said cylinder, air suction connections to hold the labels on the drum l adapted to be opened to .said compartments successively, air blast cornice fis to blow l the labels oli the said drum onto a bottle,

devices adapted to simultaneously cut oli' v and devices in said cylinder to govern` the ,connections Athrough said cylinder and a movable device in saidcylinder having a duct open to an air blast discharging through said cylinder into said compartments successively.

v16. A labeling machine Jfor bottles and the like comprising a rotatable drum having radially disposed compartments and an open Work periphery, a cylinder on which' said drum is mounted provided with an air passage adapted to register with said compartments successively'and air blast connections in said cylinder comprising a hub having a duct and a pipe leading thereto, and means to reciprocally operate said hub and ipe. p 17. A labeling machine having air suction and air blast connections comprising a sta-l tionary cylinder having openings in its side for blast and suction respectively and a reciprocating member in said cylinder adapted to open and close said blast opening s'uccessively, in combination With a drum adaptl ed to carry labels rotatably mounted on said cylinder and provided with compartments arranged to turn to said openings` successively, said suction connections adapted to sustain the labels on said drum in advance of said bla-st and comprising a reciprocating hub provided with a recess in its periphery through which suction takes place.

18. In a labeling machine, a pair of drums arranged one above the other and means to rotate the same together, in combination with a fixed hollow bearing upon Which said drums are rotatably mounted provided with an exhaust passage at one end and 'a vblast passage at the other end and openings 1n the lWall thereof communicating with saidA drums,and a device reciprocally mounted 1n said bearing and provided with ducts adapted to communicate with said openings in the wall of said bearing.

19. A labeling machine com rising a cyli'nder provided with a pair o openings in itswall and a drum rotatably mounted over.

each pair of openings and suction devices to through its respective ends and provided With openings in its side, and a drum'having radial compartments mounted on said cylinder over said FJopenings, in combination With'devices reclprocally mounted in .said cylinder having ducts to register with said openings, means to reciprocate said del vicesy simultaneously and means to rotate f said drum.

21. A labeling machine having -a rotatable label carrying. drum, a label receptacle, a

pasting device for the labels and a rotatable bottle carrier opposite said drum, in cornbination with suction devices to hold the labels on the: drum and an air blast to deliver the labels from the drum to said bottles, said label receptacle having means to temporarily shut'olf thel same from' delivery to said drum.

22. Axed 'vertically disposed cylinder having a hole and a -transverse opening in its side in substantially the same horizontal plane, a drum constructed to carry/labels by suction rotatably mounted on said cylinder and having a series of compartments adapt` 1 ed to register with said hole and yopening successively, anda device in said cylinder having an air blast duct adapted toI register with said hole' and a recess in its side to 'afford afree passage vof air exhaust from` said drum through the .interior of the cylinder by way of ,said opening.

, rIn testimonyl whereof I ailix my signature' A in presence of two witnesses. v a y WILLIAM J. EVANS;

Witnesses:r f L I V. Swrrznn, )I

GRACE MELLINQER;

55. hold the labels on the drum, in combination i 

